Letters to the Editor: Sunday, November 25, 2012

Congratulations, Tecumseh High School football team… 17,000 slaves trafficked into the U.S. each year

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The Daily Telegram - Adrian, MI

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Posted Nov. 25, 2012 at 9:00 AM

Posted Nov. 25, 2012 at 9:00 AM

Congratulations, Tecumseh High School football team

To the editor,

I wish to congratulate this year's Tecumseh High School football team on its district championship.

It has been a number of years since I had the privilege of coaching the only THS regional championship team in the fall of 1991, but the memories and pride in that magical year are something I'll cherish forever. I hope you, too, will fondly remember your special year. Congrats on a great season!

Raymond Schmidt

Former head coach

Tecumseh High School

17,000 slaves trafficked into the U.S. each year

To the editor,

The second annual Southern Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force took place Tuesday, Nov. 15, on the Siena Heights campus. This regional meeting was an exemplary display of collaborative efforts between diverse disciplines.

At the conference there were representatives from Lenawee, Jackson, Monroe and Hillsdale County. There were individuals present from law enforcement, child protective services, faith based organizations, the Dominican sisters, as well as medical professionals, students, faculty and concerned citizens.

This group of individuals from across the southern region of Michigan came together to discuss the atrocious crime that is modern day slavery and to brainstorm ideas and implement plans to abolish this heinous act. Kelly Castleberry, paralegal and member of the Crossroads Human Trafficking Task Force, directed the meeting on Tuesday. She gave general information about human trafficking globally and within the United States.

She also put the issue into context. It is difficult to gather information about this "invisible" crime, and concrete statistics are as of yet unobtainable. However, an estimated 27 million individuals are held captive across the world today and approximately 17,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year.

There are two major forms of trafficking: forced labor and sex trafficking. Children are particularly susceptible to sex trafficking. According to the Department of Justice, the average age for a child to enter into prostitution in the United States is 12. Two of the main goals the task force is working on until their next meeting are to educate others and bring more awareness to the issue of modern day slavery and to bring in political leadership to address the issue. According to Castleberry's presentation, one-third of individuals freed from slavery are rescued because an ordinary person noticed something unusual and reported it.

Without being aware that it is an issue, modern day slavery will remain unseen. A concern of the task force is the Michigan laws concerning human trafficking. Right now the law does not adequately confront the issue or provide for the survivors rescued from trafficking. Although there are currently three bills associated with slavery moving around in the state Legislature, as of yet there has been no substantial law passed since 2010.

Page 2 of 2 - Each representative at the meeting left with the challenge to work within their county to advocate for change and awareness. It was encouraging to see individuals from various fields collaborating with one another and bouncing around ideas. The next regional meeting is scheduled for April 16. After the meeting at around 6 p.m. there will be a "Big Bash" at the Christian Family Centre addressing the topic of human trafficking. Survivor and social worker Theresa Flores will also be telling her story at this event.

Mother Theresa once said, "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." Human trafficking is not an easy issue to combat; yet it is a worthy one. By cooperating with one another and joining forces, change is attainable.